Democrats pass redistricting bills

May 10, 2011

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Lawsuits on redistricting

At least three lawsuits on redistricting are waiting in the wings.A day ago, a third lawsuit was filed challenging the Legislature’s ability to redraw voting boundaries in a timely and fair manner. The suit was filed on behalf of six Southern Nevada voters and asked the U.S. District Court to convene a three-judge panel to redraw Nevada voting districts “if no acceptable plan is produced by the Nevada Legislature.“ It also argued that existing districts illegally diluted their voting rights and sought an injunction against using current districts in any future primary or general election. It named state Senate President Pro Tem Michael Schneider, D-Las Vegas; Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas; and Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. Pre-emptive lawsuits were filed by both parties weeks ago in state court, challenging the ability of lawmakers to redraw districts fairly. — Sandra Chereb, AP

Legislative Democrats pushed through a plan for new U.S. House and legislative districts on Tuesday, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, who could veto it.

Senate Bill 497 passed the state Senate by an 11-10 party line vote and passed the Assembly 25-17, with Assemblyman Harvey Mumford, D-Las Vegas, joining all the Assembly Republicans in opposition.

Mumford said he objected to the way the district he currently represents had been redrawn.

Republicans charged the Democratic maps are unfairly tilted toward ensuring Democrats are elected and discriminate against Hispanics in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.

“While the (population) numbers equal in each district, the number (of voters) slanted toward the Democrats are somewhat unfair for Republicans and minorities,” said Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, R-Henderson. “All we want is a chance to be competitive and be given a chance to someday in the not too distant future to be in the majority.”

The bill was sent to Sandoval on Tuesday night. Most legislators said they expect him to veto the bill. His spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner, said the bill would be reviewed. Sandoval has said he would veto any redistricting bill he did not believe was fair.

The Legislature is mandated in state law to redraw districts every 10 years after population numbers are determined by the U.S. Census. Because of Nevada’s growing population in the past decade, the state also gets a fourth U.S. House district.

Because much of that population growth is in Southern Nevada, one state Senate seat and one Assembly seat move from northern and rural Nevada to the south.

The Democratic plan proposes:

» Two U.S. House seats in Clark County, including the new4th U.S. House District, one partially in Clark County and rural Nevada; and one that includes Washoe County and rural Nevada.

» In the state Senate, 15 seats will be exclusively in Clark County, three in Washoe County and three in rural counties.

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» In the state Assembly, 30 seats will be entirely in Clark County; six entirely in Washoe County and six in rural Nevada.

Republicans said it’s how the individual districts are drawn that is the problem.

“This is not a plan, it’s a shame,” said state Sen. Elizabeth Halseth, R-Las Vegas.

Republicans also contended that Hispanics were being discriminated against in the Democrats’ plan. According to census numbers, Hispanics account for 26 percent of Nevada’s population.

Republicans favor creating a U.S. House district and several legislative districts where Hispanics make up the majority. Democrats, meanwhile, favor “minority influence” districts.

Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, said the Democrats’ bill “disenfranchises” the Hispanic community by creating the minority influenced districts rather than minority-majority districts.

Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, D-Las Vegas, disagreed.

She said the Republican plan presumes white voters won’t support a minority candidate.

“Nevada has proven that Hispanic and other minority candidates can and have been elected in minority-influenced districts,” Flores said. “Packing minorities into as few districts as possible to achieve a standard, that has proven to be unnecessary; it dilutes minority influence in the remaining districts.”

Some legislators think the issue of redistricting is doomed to end up in the courts.

“It will end up in court because we’re not going to be able to come up with a plan (both parties can agree on,” said Assemblyman Ira Hansen, R-Sparks.